During his weekly Team Kentucky press briefing on Thursday, WUKY asked the Governor if state road crews were continuing to assist in Lexington.
"We helped and have helped and then were told for a period of time that our help wasn't needed," said Beshear. "We have asked and it has been accepted to help some more."
Last Thursday, the Governor told us and Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton confirmed that some state trucks were helping clear some streets in Fayette County at that time.
Beshear added his assessment of Lexington's response to this past week's winter storm saying, "I think we're all disappointed by the city's response to this ice and snow event. This is the second one in a row that we should have seen better results, and I think the mayor has said that and has taken responsibility."
And he highlighted the contrast between state maintained roads and streets in Lexington.
"We did I believe some pre-treatment that Lexington did not do and should probably do. But we're willing to share any and all of the practices that had our state roads up and active in about a two day period," Beshear said. "So no, the condition of the roads in Lexington are unacceptable. They need to be better, but we want to work constructively with Lexington that from everything I'm hearing, wants to do better, but it can't take a third event to get there."
The Governor said he hasn’t spoken directly with Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton, but officials with the transportation cabinet are communicating directly with the city's road crews and they will guide the city in improving their snow and ice plan moving forward.
Susan Straub, Communications Director with the Mayor's office released the following statement regarding Beshear's comments:
“We appreciate the support being offered by the state,” said Susan Straub, Director of Communications for the Mayor’s Office. “We have state trucks, construction equipment, and city trucks on our streets clearing the roads. We pre-treated the roads before the storm began. We will conduct an after- action review to find out what went right, what went wrong, and to put together a new plan going forward.”
Snow and below freezing temperatures remain in the forecast for Central Kentucky until Sunday, when the expected high could reach 40 degrees.
